Themba Zwane: Bafana Bafana Playmaker Oozes Confidence Ahead of AFCON 2023 Clash vs Morocco

• Themba Zwane is a confident man ahead of Bafana Bafana’s AFCON 2023 last-16 tie
• South Africa seeks to evade revenge against 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco
• Injuries to Khuliso Mudau and Mothobi Mvala create uncertainties for Hugo Broos

Themba Zwane is optimistic about Bafana Bafana's chances of reaching the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.

The team has secured a spot in the last-16, after finishing second in Group E in Ivory Coast ahead of Namibia and Tunisia but conceded first place to the Eagles of Mali, who also defeated them.

They are set to face Morocco, a formidable opponent and one of the favourites for the title, on Tuesday, January 30, at the Laurent Pokou Stadium (Stade de San Pedro).

Despite the challenge ahead, Zwane is confident in the team's capabilities.

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Having previously defeated Morocco in the competition qualifiers with a 2-1 victory at FNB Stadium, Zwane believes they have what it takes to progress further.

"We have a good team to go forward for the games, try to fight and see ourselves in the final – we're going to push ourselves, why not? And we have the team for that," Zane said, as quoted by IdiskiTimes.

After a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Tunisia, the squad, including the 34-year-old Zwane, emphasizes the importance of a six-day rest period to recover from the group stage fatigue. Zwane acknowledged the higher level of competition in AFCON compared to the Champions League but remains confident in their ability to compete and advance.

However, Bafana Bafana's preparations for the last-16 clash face uncertainties as defender Khuliso Mudau and midfielder Mothobi Mvala are nursing injuries. Mudau, who suffered hard tackles during the game against Tunisia, is a significant doubt for the crucial match against Morocco, pending his response to treatment.

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Coach Hugo Broos remains optimistic about the players' availability, especially Mvala, who suffered a kick during the Tunisia match. Broos downplayed the severity of Mvala's injury, expressing confidence in his readiness for the Round of 16 fixture.

“We had two problems after the game against Tunisia, and the first was Mothobi, who had a kick. It is a bit painful, but it was treated, and I don’t think it will be a big problem for Tuesday,” Broos said, as quoted on Herald Live.

Addressing the team's challenges, Broos highlighted the positive atmosphere within the camp, emphasizing the players' support for each other. Despite the uncertainties, the coach expressed happiness at reaching the knockout stages and conveyed confidence in Bafana Bafana's potential to qualify for the AFCON final.

Drawing on his experience with Cameroon in 2017, Broos believes in the team's growth over the past year and a half, citing positive results in Group E as evidence. He reiterated his determination to win every match and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work with a promising team.

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Morocco coach fires warning to South Africa ahead of round of 16 tie

Sports Brief reported that Morocco assistant manager, Rachid Benmahmoud, urged the 2022 World Cup semi-finalists to take revenge against South Africa.

South Africa defeated Morocco 2-1 the last time both teams met in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in 2023.

Morocco’s head coach, Walid Regragui, is expected to return to the sidelines.